den·ti·tion | \ den-ˈti-shən 
\
\Definition of dentition
1 : the development and cutting of teeth
2 : the character of a set of teeth especially with regard to their number, kind, and arrangement — see tooth illustration
3 : teeth
Examples of dentition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Fans immediately pounced on the picture, taking to the comments section to share their guesses as to what the disturbing dentition might mean for the new season's theme, which has not been announced.
—
Lauren Huff, EW.com, "Ryan Murphy gives American Horror Story season 10 production update, teases new story," 28 Aug. 2020 Wrangham and colleagues attribute these changes to the invention of cooking, which makes food easier to chew, explaining the smaller dentition, and more energy-rich, to fuel bigger bodies and brains.
—
Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, "Monkeys’ Attraction to Burned Grasslands May Offer Clues to Human Ancestors’ Mastery of Fire," 10 Aug. 2020 So dire was the state of U.S. dentition that in 1901, Frederick McKay’s discovery that many of his patients’ teeth were mottled with ugly brown stains generated little notice.
—
Charles C. Mann, The Atlantic, "Is There Still a Good Case for Water Fluoridation?," 17 Mar. 2020 The idea that a person's dentition was as unique and traceable as a fingerprint was not generally accepted at the time, and is still not.
—
Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Man exonerated after 23 years in prison says detectives, dentists framed him with bogus bite-mark evidence," 24 June 2019 In my experience, which includes extensive travel in other countries, Americans often seem disoriented or even horrified when confronted with imperfect dentition.
—
David Tuller, CNN, "When is dentistry not medicine? When insurance is involved," 28 May 2018 In my experience, which includes extensive travel in other countries, Americans often seem disoriented or even horrified when confronted with imperfect dentition.
—
David Tuller, CNN, "When is dentistry not medicine? When insurance is involved," 28 May 2018 In my experience, which includes extensive travel in other countries, Americans often seem disoriented or even horrified when confronted with imperfect dentition.
—
David Tuller, CNN, "When is dentistry not medicine? When insurance is involved," 28 May 2018 With their mouths open, their gaping dentition provokes horror.
—
Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "For the Fourth, bring out the (San Diego Zoo) babies!," 3 July 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dentition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for dentition
dentition
nounden·ti·tion | \ den-ˈtish-ən \
\Medical Definition of dentition
1 : the development and cutting of teeth
2 : the character of a set of teeth especially with regard to their number, kind, and arrangement
3 : teeth
Comments on dentition
What made you want to look up dentition? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Namesakes Word Quiz
- Which of the following is a fruit named after a Moroccan seaport?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share dentition
Time Traveler for dentition
The first known use of dentition was in 1615
See more words from the same year